The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its’ wholly-owned subsidiary, MTI Instruments and its’ VIE, MTI Micro. The Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. All inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. The Company reflects the impact of the equity securities issuances in its investment in a VIE and additional paid-in-capital accounts for the dilution or anti-dilution of its ownership interest in the VIE. It is the Company’s policy to reclassify prior year consolidated financial statements to conform to current year presentation, if applicable.

The Company has performed an analysis under the VIE model and determined that MTI Micro is a VIE. One of the criteria for determining whether an entity is a VIE is determining if the entity, MTI Micro, has equity at risk. Management has concluded that MTI Micro does not have equity at risk to fund operations into its next phase of development. Further, the Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of MTI Micro, and therefore should include MTI Micro’s results of operations in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company's analysis to determine the primary beneficiary of MTI Micro focused primarily on determining which variable interest holder has the power to direct the activities that would have the most significant impact on the financial performance of MTI Micro. MTI Micro is governed by its own board of directors and significant decisions are determined by a majority vote of this board. MTI does not have control of the MTI Micro board of directors; however, at this time, the Company’s board of directors and the MTI Micro board of directors consist of the same members. Under the Articles of Incorporation of MTI Micro, each share of MTI Micro stock is entitled to a vote, and further, holders of a majority of the shares of MTI Micro's common stock have the ability to reconstitute the board. As of December 31, 2011, MTI, Counter Point Ventures Fund II, LP (Counter Point), Dr. Walter L. Robb, a member of the Company’s and MTI Micro’s board of directors, and Peng Lim, CEO and board member own 47.6%, 45.2%, 5.1% and 0.5% of the common shares of MTI Micro, respectively. Counter Point is a venture capital fund sponsored and managed by Dr. Robb. Since no entity of the related parties has power but, as a group, the Company and its related parties have the power, then the party within the related party group that is most closely associated with the VIE, MTI Micro, is the primary beneficiary. Even though Dr. Robb and Counterpoint combined control a majority of the outstanding common stock, and they have the ability to elect the directors of MTI Micro and decide whether to continue to seek business opportunities for MTI Micro or instead seek opportunities to sell the intellectual property, they have not elected to do so. The Company continues to oversee the day to day operations, exercise management decision making, seek opportunities to sell intellectual properties, and have a vested interest in the commercialization of MTI Micro’s fuel cell technology. Since inception in 2001, the Company has made the largest investment and been the principal funder of MTI Micro. The Company has also been exposed to losses and has the ability to benefit from MTI Micro. Considering the facts and circumstances, management believes the Company is most closely associated with the VIE, MTI Micro, and therefore, it is the primary beneficiary.

Should there be a change in the facts and circumstances (such as a change in governance or a change to the related party group) management will reassess whether they act as the primary beneficiary and should continue to include MTI Micro in the Company’s consolidated results of operations.

Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries consists of equity securities issued by a VIE of the Company. Non-controlling interests are now classified as equity in the consolidated financial statements. The consolidated income statement is presented by requiring net income to include the net income for both the parent and the non-controlling interests, with disclosure of both amounts on the consolidated statement of income. The calculation of earnings per share is based on income amounts attributable to the parent.

The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, derivatives and accounts payable. The estimated fair values of these financial instruments approximate their carrying values at December 31, 2011 and 2010. The estimated fair values have been determined through information obtained from market sources, where available, or Black-Scholes Option Pricing model valuations.

The Company recognizes all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position and measures these instruments at fair value. The fair value of the derivative is recorded in the “Derivative liability” line on the consolidated balance sheets, and is valued quarterly using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model. The Company also follows the accounting provisions for Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock, which requires freestanding contracts that are settled in a company’s own stock, including common stock warrants, to be designated as an equity instrument, asset or a liability. Under these provisions, a contract designated as an asset or a liability must be carried at fair value, with any changes in fair value recorded in the results of operations. A contract designated as an equity instrument can be included in equity, with no fair value adjustments required. Based on the terms and conditions of the warrant of the Company, the instrument does not qualify to be designated as an equity instrument and is therefore recorded as a derivative liability.

The asset/liability derivatives are valued on a quarterly basis using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model. Significant assumptions used in the valuation include exercise dates, closing market prices for the Company’s common stock, volatility of the Company’s common stock, and proxy risk-free interest rates. Gains (losses) on derivatives are included in the “Gain (loss) on derivatives” line on the consolidated statements of operations.

Trade accounts receivable are stated at the invoiced amount billed to customers and do not bear interest. An allowance for doubtful accounts, if necessary, represents the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in its existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience and current exposures identified. The Company reviews its allowance for doubtful accounts monthly. Past due balances over 90 days and over a specified amount are reviewed individually for collectability. All other balances are reviewed on a pooled basis by type of receivable. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company believes it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. The Company does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market. The Company provides estimated inventory allowances for excess, slow moving and obsolete inventory as well as inventory whose carrying value is in excess of net realizable value.

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives as follows:

Significant additions or improvements extending assets’ useful lives are capitalized; normal maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. The costs of fully depreciated assets remaining in use are included in the respective asset and accumulated depreciation accounts. When items are sold or retired, related gains or losses are included in net (loss) income.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for temporary differences between financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities, loss carryforwards, and tax credit carryforwards, for which income tax benefits are expected to be realized in future years. A valuation allowance has been established to reduce deferred tax assets, if it is more likely than not that all, or some portion, of such deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period which includes the enactment date.

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with accounting standards that address income taxes. The Company must recognize in its financial statements the impact of a tax position, if that position is more likely than not to be sustained on an audit, based on the technical merits of the position.

The estimated fair value of certain financial instruments, including cash, cash equivalents and short-term debt approximates their carrying value due to their short maturities and varying interest rates. “Fair value” is the price that would be received to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Based on the observability of the inputs used in the valuation methods, the Company is required to provide the following information according to the fair value accounting standards. These standards established a fair value hierarchy as specified that ranks the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. Financial assets and liabilities are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

The Company applies the accounting guidance for revenue recognition in the evaluation of its contracts to determine when to properly recognize revenue. The following outlines the various types of revenue and the determination of the recognition of income for each category:

Product revenue is recognized when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the collection of a fixed fee is probable or determinable, and delivery of the product to the customer or distributor has occurred, at which time title generally is passed to the customer or distributor. All of these generally occur upon shipment of the product. If the product requires installation to be performed by the Company, all revenue related to the product is deferred and recognized upon the completion of the installation. If the product requires specific customer acceptance, revenue is deferred until customer acceptance occurs or the acceptance provisions lapse, unless the Company can objectively and reliably demonstrate that the criteria specified in the acceptance provisions is satisfied.

MTI Instruments currently has distributor agreements in place for the international sale of general instrument and semiconductor products in certain global regions. Such agreements grant a distributor the right of first refusal to act as distributor for such products in the distributor’s territory. In return, the distributor agrees to not market other products which are considered by MTI Instruments to be in direct competition with MTI Instruments’ products. The distributor is allowed to purchase MTI Instruments’ equipment at a price which is discounted off the published domestic/international list prices. Such list prices can be adjusted by MTI Instruments during the term of the distributor agreement, but MTI Instruments must provide advance notice at least 90 days before the price adjustment goes into effect. Generally, payment terms with the distributor are standard net 30 days; however, on occasion, extended payment terms have been granted. Title and risk of loss of the product passes to the distributor upon delivery to the independent carrier (standard “free-on-board” factory), and the distributor is responsible for any required training and/or service with the end-user. The sale (and subsequent payment) between MTI Instruments and the distributor is not contingent upon the successful resale of the product by the distributor. Distributor sales are covered by MTI Instruments’ standard one-year warranty and there are no special return policies for distributors.

Some of MTI Instruments’ direct sales, particularly sales of semi-automatic semiconductor metrology equipment, or rack-mounted vibration systems, involve on-site customer acceptance and/or installation. In those instances, revenue recognition does not take place at time of shipment. Instead, MTI Instruments recognizes the sale after the unit is installed and/or an on-site acceptance is given by the customer. Agreed-upon acceptance terms and conditions, if any, are negotiated at the time of purchase.

The Company performs funded research and development for government agencies under both cost reimbursement and fixed-price contracts. Cost reimbursement contracts provide for the reimbursement of allowable costs. On fixed-price contracts, revenue is generally recognized on the percentage of completion method based upon the proportion of costs incurred to the total estimated costs for the contract. Revenue from reimbursement contracts is recognized as the services are performed. In each type of contract, the Company generally receives periodic progress payments or payments upon reaching interim milestones. When the current estimates of total contract revenue for commercial development contracts indicate a loss, a provision for the entire loss on the contract is recorded. Any losses incurred in performing funded research and development projects are recognized as research and development expense as incurred. When government agencies are providing funding they do not expect the government to be the only significant end user of the resulting products. These contracts do not require delivery of products that meet defined performance specifications, but are best efforts arrangements to achieve overall research and development objectives. Included in accounts receivable are billed and unbilled work-in-progress on contracts. Billings in excess of contract revenues earned are recorded as deferred revenue. While the Company’s accounting for government contract costs is subject to audit by the sponsoring entity, in the opinion of management, no material adjustments are expected as a result of such audits. Adjustments are recognized in the period made.

The Company also applies the proper accounting guidance in the evaluation of commercially funded fuel cell research and prototype agreements in order to determine when to properly recognize income. Payments received in connection with commercial research and prototype agreements are deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the agreement for service-related payments, and for milestone and prototype delivery payments, if and when achieved, revenue is deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the remaining term of the agreement. Under this policy, when revenue qualifies for recognition it will be recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the line titled “Funded research and development revenue.” The costs associated with research and prototype-producing activities are expensed as incurred. Expenses in an amount equal to revenues recognized are reclassified from the line titled “Unfunded research and product development” to “Funded research and product development” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company recognizes income derived from its micro fuel cell prototype evaluation agreements, where the Company receives a lump-sum amount from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) which are testing the Company’s Mobion^® prototypes for an OEM-specific application, upon delivery of the evaluation prototypes. These prototypes are returned to the Company once the evaluation period expires. There are no warranties given to any OEM regarding these prototypes, and each evaluation agreement is considered a customer specific arrangement. The costs associated with executing these prototype evaluation arrangements are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the line titled “Unfunded research and development expense” as they are incurred and income derived from these arrangements is offset against the expense.

Cost of product revenue includes material, labor, overhead and shipping and handling costs. Costs incurred in connection with funded research and development arrangements are included in funded research and product development expenses.

Deferred revenue consists of payments received from customers in advance of services performed, completed installation or customer acceptance.

The Company accrues a warranty liability at the time product revenue is recorded based on historical experience. The liability is reviewed during the year and is adjusted, if appropriate, to reflect new product offerings or changes in experience. Actual warranty claims are tracked by product line. Warranty liability was $26 thousand and $36 thousand at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The Company accounts for impairment or disposal of long-lived assets in accordance with accounting standards that address the financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, specify how impairment will be measured, and how impaired assets will be classified in the consolidated financial statements. On a quarterly basis, the Company analyzes the status of its long-lived assets at each subsidiary for potential impairment. As of December 31, 2011, the Company does not believe that any of its long-lived assets have suffered any type of impairment that would require an adjustment to that asset’s recorded value.

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid short-term investments with original maturities of less than three months.

The Company computes basic income (loss) per common share by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted income (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution, if any, computed by dividing income (loss) by the combination of dilutive common share equivalents, comprised of shares issuable under outstanding investment rights, warrants and the Company’s share-based compensation plans, and the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Dilutive common share equivalents include the dilutive effect of in-the-money stock options, which are calculated based on the average share price for each period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the exercise price of a stock option, the amount of compensation cost, if any, for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, and the amount of windfall tax benefits that would be recorded in additional paid-in capital, if any, when the stock option is exercised are assumed to be used to repurchase shares in the current period.

The Company accounts for stock based awards exchanged for employee service in accordance with the stock-based payment accounting guidance. The Company has three share-based employee compensation plans and MTI Micro has two share-based employee compensation plans, all of which are described more fully in Note 13, Stock Based Compensation.

Stock-based compensation represents the cost related to stock-based awards granted to employees and directors. The Company measures stock-based compensation cost at grant date based on the estimated fair value of the award, and recognizes the cost as expense on a straight-line basis in accordance with the vesting of the options (net of estimated forfeitures) over the option’s requisite service period. The Company estimates the fair value of stock-based awards using a Black Scholes valuation model. Stock-based compensation expense is recorded in the lines titles “Selling, general and administrative expenses” and “Unfunded research and product development expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations based on the employees’ respective functions.

The Company records deferred tax assets for awards that potentially can result in deductions on the Company’s income tax returns based on the amount of compensation cost that would be recognized upon issuance of the award and the Company’s statutory tax rate. Differences between the deferred tax assets recognized for financial reporting purposes and the actual tax deduction reported on the Company’s income tax return are recorded in Additional Paid-In Capital (if the tax deduction exceeds the deferred tax asset) or in the Consolidated Statement of Operations (if the deferred tax asset exceeds the tax deduction and no historical pool of windfall tax benefits exists). Since the adoption of the revised accounting standard on share-based payments, no tax benefits have been recognized related to share-based compensation since the Company has established a full valuation allowance to offset all potential tax benefits associated with these deferred tax assets.

Financial instruments that subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk principally consist of cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable and unbilled contract costs. The Company’s trade accounts receivable and unbilled contract costs and fees are primarily from sales to commercial customers, the U.S. government and state agencies. The Company does not require collateral and has not historically experienced significant credit losses related to receivables or unbilled contract costs and fees from individual customers or groups of customers in any particular industry or geographic area.

The Company has cash deposits in excess of federally insured limits. The amount of such deposits is essentially all cash at December 31, 2011.

In September 2011, the FASB issued guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income. This guidance eliminates the current option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in equity. The guidance allows two presentation alternatives: (1) present items of net income and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement, referred to as the statement of comprehensive income; or (2) in two separate, but consecutive, statements of net income and other comprehensive income. This guidance is effective as of the beginning of a fiscal year that begins after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted, but full retrospective application is required under both sets of accounting standards. The guidance also previously required the presentation of adjustments for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income in the statement where the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income are presented; however, this portion of the guidance has been deferred. The Company plans to adopt the guidance during the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The Company believes the adoption of this new guidance will not have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements as this update has an impact on presentation only.

Prior period amounts related to inventory have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.